Electric switch controlled by railroad rolling-stock



H. KARL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROLLED BY RAILROAD ROLHNG STOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-21.1915.

1,329,773. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

UNITED STATES HEINRICH,KARL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROLLED IBY RAILROAD ROLLING-STOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920'.

Application filed. September 21, 1915. Serial No. 51,777.

that the circuit is normally open, or normally I closed, or when a plurality of circuits are controlled at the same time, some of them may be normally open and others normally closed.

Two examples of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic vertical sections showing one form of my apparatus, in the normal or inactive and in the operated or active position respectively; Fig. 3 ,is a diagrammatic plan view, with parts in section; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of another form of my invention, with parts in section.

In Figs.-1, 2 and 4t, I have indicated at 10, the wheel of a railroad engine or car, arranged to run on a track rail 12, said wheel constituting the actuating member, carried by the railroad rollingstock, for operating the improved controller or switch apparatus, located at a suitable point of the track.

According to Figs. 1 and 2 the actuating member 10 is adapted to engage and depress a curved spring, the normal position of which'is indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, and by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This spring bears on, and is adapted. to push downward when depressed, a plunger 14 suitably guided for up and down movement in a stationary frame 13. To the lower end of the plunger is attached pivotally one end of a connecting rod 15, the other end of which has a similar connection with a disk 20 mounted to turn on a rod or axle 18. To the disk 20 is secured rigidly a switch member 19, provided at its periphery with spaced insulated ,portions,the relative arrangement of which position shown in Fig. 1 the brushes engage the insulated portions, and the circuits are broken; in Fig. 2, the three brushes engage the conducting portion of the switch member 19, and the circuits are closed. The disk 20 and switch member 19 are under the influence of mechanism, such as the weight 31 connected to the disk by a rope or chain 32, tending to bring the parts to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the weight 31 may rest on the bottom of the casing 21, which incloses-and 1 protects the switch apparatus.

The disk 20 is provided with a shoulder 24, and when the depression of the spring 11 gives a partial rotation to said disk, bringing it to the position Fig. 2, the shoulder 24.- will clear the head 28 of a sliding rod 27, supported and movable in holes of brackets 21 within the casing21. A spring 26 tends to move said rod toward the center or axis 18 of the disk. The head 28 will therefore be projected into the locking position, to prevent the return of the switch member 19 to its normal position until the head 28 is retractedas explained hereinafter, when the weight 31, which has been raised by the turning of the disk 20,- will restorethe switch.

member to the normal position (Fig. 1). The engagement between. the spring .or actuated member 11 and the plunger 14' is preterably a loose one, so that said spring may return to its normal position as soon wheel 10 clears the springll. I The circuits closed by the engagement of the contacts 22, 23, and 2. a with the conduct ing portion of the switch member 19, may control any device or devices susceptible of electric control, and examples of electrical operation of various devices by passing trains are well-known in the art. As an example, I'have shown the contact23 connected by a wire 16 with a bell 17 (this beingan instanceof an acoustic signal), while the contact 23 is connected by a wire 35 with an electromagnet coil36 controlling, say, a semaphore signal 37, see Fig. 3, (this being an instance of an optical signal be supplied in any suitable manner, as by means of a generator 33 from which a wire 34 leads to the contact 22'. i

In order toretract the head 28 from its as the i Current may '10s "locking sition, I hav sh wn an m tu 29 on the end of the rod 27 opposite to the head 28, said armature being adapted to be attracted by an electromagnet 30. This magnet may be energized at the proper time in any well-known or approved manner. For instance, when the train has proceeded to the desired distance '(say, a block) after the switch member 19 has been turned by the depression of the actuated member 11, such train may (by means well-known in the art) send the current from a source of electricity through a circuit including the coil of the electromagnet 30, a wire 38, a rail portion or ramp .39, and a track rail 25, the circuit being normally interrupted between said ramp and said track rail and closed in a well known manner as a train passes this point.

In Fig. t, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in which two apparatus of the character described above are lo cated at the same point of the track and connected in the manner to be set fort-h presently. The parts designated by the numerals 19', 20 ,21, 22', 23, 25', 29, so, 31", 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 3S and 39 are substantially the same as those bearing similarnumeralsin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but the switch member 19 is shown with only two insulated portions on its periphery, and there are two contacts 22-", 28 instead of the three contacts 22, 23,, 23 Thus a single circuit (33, 34-, 28 19', 22, 85, 36) is closed when the disk 2-0 is turned to bring both contacts 22', 23 in engagement with-the conducting portion of the switch member 19. Of course the circuit arrangement of 'Figs. 1 and 2 might be employed in Fig. 4, and vice-versa.

The double device of Fig. 4: is intended to have one of its halves or sections operated only by trains traveling in the one direction, and the other Section only by trains traveling inthe opposite direction. This form of my invention is designed for single-track lines. I

The two halves or sections of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 being similar, only one of them has been illustrated in detail, and its description will suffice;

The first wheel 10 of a train traveling toward the left will engage the roller 40 on a spring or actuated member 41, which is thus also DIOQdtOWZLld the left as indicated by dotted lines, causing the levers 42, 42 which are pi'votally connected with said member 41, to rock on their fulcrum pins 43, 43 respectively. The lower ends of these levers therefore swing to the right, and the wire, rope, or chain 45 will transmit the motion of the lever 42 to the left-handsection of the apparatus, owing to the pull exerted on said flexible connection 45. The switch member 19 on the left'will therefore be turned- (and latched as described above) to operate the signal 37- orother controlled device, by closing the circuit between the contacts? 22", 23'

and the conducting portion of the switch member 19. The lever 42 however, in this case will not operate the right-hand section of the apparatus, since movement of the lower end of said lever 42 will simply cause the flexible connection d5 to sag or become slack, as indicated by dotted'lines.

When a train travels toward the'right, its first wheel will engage the roller 40 at the left-hand end of the spring 41, move it toward the right, and swing the levers 42, d2 so that their lower ends will move toward the left, pulling on the connection 45 to operate the right-liand part or se'ctio'n'of the apparatus, while the connection 45 will become slack so that the left-hand section of the apparatus will not be affected.

The right-hand section of the apparatus will therefore, be operated only by trains or rolling stock moving toward the right, and the left-hand section only, by rolling stock moving toward the left.

When a train passes to a succeeding block to the right or left, the solenoid 30 at the left or right as the case may be releases its latch 27' on theslide rod 28 and the parts 4&0, 40, a1, 42 and 49/will be restored to normal position under the action of the weight 31.

While I have shown satisfactory andpreferred embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I'claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a movable member arranged adjacent to a railroad track and adapted to be actuated by passing trains, an electric switch mounted to rock and arranged to be operated by said membe mechanically, a disk connected with said switch and provided with a shoulder, latching means adapted for engagement with said shoulder, and a device for moving said latching means to the releasing posi tion. r p

2. In apparatus of the class described, a movable member arranged adjacent to a railroad track and adapted to be actuated by passing trains, an electric switch mounted to rock and arranged to be operated by said member mechanically, a disk connected with said switch and provided with a shoulder, latching means adapted for engagement with said shoulder, and an electric device controlled by passing trains for moving, said latching means to the releasing position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a member arranged adjacent to a railroad track and adapted to be moved lengthwise of such track by passing trains, in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which the actuating train travels, two electric switches, and mechanical connections between said member and said switches, each of said connections including an element for transmitting motion in one direction only, and becoming slack upon the movement of said member in the other direction, one of said elements being operative to transmit motion to the respective switch when the said member moves in one direc tion, and the other element being operative to transmit motion to the other switch when said member moves in the other direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HEINRICH KARL. 

